Improvement in reed-organs



2 Sheets--Sneet 1.

C. AUSTN'.

Reed-Organs.

Patented Feb. 18,18%.

AM PHoro-uTHosRAPH/c co N x (asap/m pimms);

2 Shams-Sheet 2.

C. AUSTIN.

Reed-Organs.

N0.135,875. Patemedfebwsnas;

rvr-'rn Srnfrns (l ARLES AUSTN, OF UUNCiRD, NEVI .ilrthllllilii IMPROVEMENT iN Ririsiiihi.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. iii'fir, dated llebruary 1S,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Ci-mnLEs AUsriN, ot' Concord, in the county ot' Merrimack and State of New Hampshire, have invented an Improved Action for Reed-Instruments; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full and accurate description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and the letters of reference marked thereon.

My improvement consists in the arrangement of a single set or two or more sets of reeds, one set above another, in such a manner that the action ol' the air upon the valves will tend to close instead ot' tending to open the valve, permitting the use of much lighter springs than are employed to close the valves of reed-instruments, as ordinarilyv constructed, giving an easy action to the keys when any number of sets of reeds is employed with which the instrument is furnished. I also claim that the reeds will respond more promptly to the touch upon the keys by my arrangement than by any other arrangement in use.

Referring to the drawing, Figure l, at a and b are shown tivo sets of reed-boards, each of which may contain one or two sets of reeds. More reed-boards may be used, if desired, placing them one above another, in the same manner as shown. A single set of reed-boards may also loe arranged on the same principle. c, the Windchest; d d, valves 5 c, reed-blocks; g, the coupling lever 5 li, the coupler; t' i, springs, j, va-lvepins. The bellows employed are the ordinary suction-bellows, the air passing to the reeds through the openings or cells which contain the reed-blocks, and being per mitted to act upon the reeds by means ofthe valves, raised by the valve-pins resting upon the keys. The valve-pins for each set, except the lower one, rest upon the top ofthe valves of the set below. The valve-pins ofthe lower set rest upon the keys. The valve-pins are iirmly attached to their respective valves. Each valve must be separated from its neighbor by a thin partition, as shown in the drawing. I am enabled to place my successive sets of reeds and reed -boards one above the other only by passing the valve-pins through the wind-chest. I do this, and at the same time prevent leakage of air through the holes through which the valve-pins pass, by gluing small blocks between the top and bottoni ot' the windchest, and passing the valve -pins through the blocks, so that the air from the wind-chest does not come in contact with the valve-pins; and to allow the air to pass freely from the iront to the baci; ot' the wind-chest, I leave sutlieient spaces between the blocks, as shown in the .rawing.

Blocks may be used, or the pins may bo passed through the wind-chest through any kind ot' tube or ease ot wood or metal, so that the air shall not escape through the holes occupied by the valve-pins, but at the same time shall be permitted to pass freely from the front to the rear of the windehest. The position oi these blocks or tubes with reference to the valves and wind-chest is shown at Fig. 7, with the apertures between them through which the air passes from the front to the rear of the wind-chest.

By thus passing' the valve-pins through the wind-chest l am enabled to arrange my valves so that the action oi' the bellows will create a suction upon the valves which will tend to close it, instead oi placing my valve so that the action ofthe bellows will tend to open it., and using a spring ot' suiiicient force to hold the valve closed against the pressure of the air, as instruments are now constructed, and

I am enabled to place my successive sets oi' reeds above each other, in a position where they are easily accessible for tuning and ad justinent when they may need adjustment.

The detail of the construction ot' my invention is illustrated by the sections, Figs. 2, Ji, 5, 6, and 7.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section, showing the position ot' the valves and blocks which con duct the valve-pins through the wind-chest. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section upon a line drawn through the center ot' one ot' the cells, as i'rom J', Fig. Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse section upon a line drawn through the center oi'one ot' the partitions which divide the cells, as at y, Fig. Fig. bf is a horizontal section at the top ot' the wind-chest, showin the holes covered by the valves, as from Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a horizontal section, showingl the blocks through which the valve-pins pass, as upon a line drawn from to, Fig. 2. Fig. 4E is a horizontal section as seen trom below upon :t line drawn horizontally from v, Fig. 3. Fig. the other, the valve-pins passing through the 1 shows the arrangement with the cover and wind-chest, incombination with the blocks, one end removed to show the interior. tubes, or casings, substantially as described.

I use small and light wire springs upon the Concord, N. H., May 20, 1872. valve-pins, as shown at t', Fig. 1, to make the action of the valves more certain.

I claim- Witnesses:

In reed-instruments having either one reed- 4set or two or more reed-sets, placed one above CHARLES AUSTIN.

Crus. C. LUND, CARROLL HUTCHINS. 

